Anyone else un-impressed by Graham on Hardball tonight?

[EnfantTerrible]

Could've just been me wanting him to really draw blood, but I thought he was weak in his arguments. Eliptical answers to straight questions and a general lack of focus to his points.

[Catch22Dem]

1. Let me first say, I LOVE Bob Graham, but...

I'm always unimpressed by his speaking ability.

[kstewart33]

2. He simply is not articulate

I saw the segment and was very disappointed.

[EnfantTerrible]

4. Hardball is on again right now

I'm going to watch again to see if It's any better the second time around.

[John_H]

3. Sadly, he's too senatorial and reticent to make the charges he's making

[zulchzulu]

5. Not made for TV at this point

Graham is a statesman, not some fast-talking bulldog who would love to outscream the other guy in a wacked-out rant style.

So keep him of these shows. Nah, people can see Uncle Bob. Fuggem...

[EnfantTerrible]

6. I understand that he's not made for TV

But his allegations sound unfounded and speculative because he can't answer questions concisely

[zulchzulu]

12. True...

I heard him today on Randi Rhodes and thought (as I have thought since he tried to run for President last year) that he is charming for about 12 seconds and then you start wondering why he looks like an anteater.... You do this because he has a really bad delivery (that's showbiz).

[AmerDem]

7. his story is out , that is the main thing

Graham is known for a very dull manner. All that is need now is for a skilled investigative journalist to do their work! I'm sure there at least a few as we speak doing just that!

[EnfantTerrible]

9. I hope it does turn into something

because I wasn't too convinced that he has anything from what I saw tonight.

[troublemaker]

8. He came off a little batty, but Matthews was partially to blame

The questions were odd. He never asked whether Graham was saying that the Saudis were knowing participants in 9/11, knowing that who they were supporting was going to attack the US.(Out of curiosity, anybody what Graham would have answered?)

[EnfantTerrible]

13. Honestly I think he just wasn't prepared.

It's pretty obvious what the topic is going to be. Tweetie was trying to throw him a rope and bring him to shore by redirecting him to offer some connection between the Saudi's and 9/11. I admit that he was brusk with the Senator, but I thought he was losing patience with Graham squandering this opportunity to make a case.

[YellowDawgDemocrat]

14. We aren't going to get anywhere with Graham's claims

You could tell from the look on Matthew's face that he was disappointed with the Senator's reasoning. Oh well, we had a pretty good day today and I think it's pretty clear we are now in a mud slinging fist fight. I think it's a risky strategy, but I trust the campaign to have sensed something to require the tactic.

These things are really just popcorn for the movie. This election will be decided by unknown events and not by who has the best "gotcha" advertisement. If Iraq goes in the toilet for the next 2 months or if the economy continues to slump we are in like Flynn. If these two issues don't move our way we have 4 more years of the Toxic Texan to look forward to.

[EnfantTerrible]

17. Graham offered a qualifyer

when he answered Tweeties direct question about whether or not the Saudi's are directly linked to 9/11. Graham said that yes an agent acting on behalf of the Saudi's offered assistance to two of the hijackers and he MAY NOT HAVE KNOWN THEY WERE TERRORISTS but he did assist them.
I think this weakened his argument and offered the excuse we'll hear to explain the allegations away: "Yes he offered assistance but didn't know that they were terrorists. He was just helping out some Saudi students"

[soleft]

10. Unfortunately, it was very frustrating to watch

He did not speak concisely or authoratatively, it's almost like the subject was too large to fit into whatever 2 minute time they were allowing him - he seemed scattered - I was disappointed because this is so damn important and how many changes do we get to have an audience with this kind of information in the mainstream.

[EnfantTerrible]

16. Me too

I agree that the topic is far too complex for the six minutes they get and I too feel it may have been an opportunity lost.

[henslee]

11. He may be a little fumpher-ee but he was confident, calm and full

of specifics. And their was a little sparkle in his eye. So what if he isn't BUDDY LOVE. I'm tired of memes/talking points and all that crap. Give me a little CSPAN dryness and a formidable reputation. I am patient enough to deal with it.

[EnfantTerrible]

15. Unfortunately the sound-bite format

of these pundit shows doesn't lend itself dryness. I'm just disappointed. I was hoping for more. As was pointed out in this thread above the story is out now and we have to hope it will get play.

[GaryL]

18. Intelligence is a curse to todays news format.

Unless you're forceful and direct on almost every point, you're doomed. No place for reflective thought.

[EnfantTerrible]

20. I hope it doesn't seem like I'm questioning his intelligence

I'm not. But to expand on your point : If one knows the format wouldn't you prepare to play on that field or find a field that is more conducive to presenting your argument?

[GaryL]

26. I'm sure you're not.

I was just reflecting how Graham would have done with say, Bill Moyers. It would have been much more enjoyable and educational. Cable network news doesn't seem to have the skill or patience to pull off that type of interview.

[EnfantTerrible]

27. It's fast food

[DemMother]

23. Graham has a complicated story to tell

And it's the kind of story Matthews hates. He'd rather sit around and dish dirt and talk about who's tougher or who landed a punch or what's going on behind the scenes. He has absolutely no depth whatsoever, and certainly wasn't capable of following Graham's story or asking questions that would help him along. It was his usual interrupting and get-to-the-point kind of questioning. Graham's story of shadowy relationships and suspect meetings and links that are not completely understood was the point. It's more like a Graham Greene novel. There is no punchline.

I think Hardball was the wrong place, wrong show, wrong host...to borrow a phrase.

[eleny]

19. I was unimpressed by Tweety's lack of enthusiasm during the interview

He's the one who made it such a low key segment thereby relegating it the forgettable category, imo. Graham has the goods and I hope his book catches fire as he makes the interview rounds.

[EnfantTerrible]

21. Could be Tweetie smells that this is going nowhere.

I hope he's wrong if that's what he thinks. I thought that he (CM) was disappointed with the answers he was getting... even irritated by them.

[DeadHead67]

22. I think 'Tweetie' just smells ! PERIOD !!!

Not only that I suspect he's trying to cover all his bases, in the event of a Democratic Avalanche(and it HAS STARTED). I hear the RUMBLING! LESS THAN TWO MONTHS!:kick: :nuke:

[EnfantTerrible]

24. Would you elaborate on this thought...

I've been imbibing and can't seem to follow.


:smoke:

[Gloria]

25. "lack of enthusiasm" on Tweety's part was my impression as well...

It seemed he wanted to get Graham off as soon as possible, like he didn't want to go there....

[EnfantTerrible]

28. Maybe he was in a hurry to go after the NRA

He was relentless in that segment.